9 charged in sex trafficking investigation: 'So much of this out there'

José M. Osorio, Chicago Tribune

Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez arrives for a press conference regarding a long term undercover investigation into forced sex-trafficking of children and young women by Chicago street gang members.

Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez arrives for a press conference regarding a long term undercover investigation into forced sex-trafficking of children and young women by Chicago street gang members.

(José M. Osorio, Chicago Tribune)

Antonio Olivo and Dahleen GlantonTribune reporters

Dozens of girls, some as young as 12, were pulled into a human trafficking ring that forced them into prostitution, State's Attorney Anita Alvarez said today.

The girls and women, some of them homeless, were recruited on CTA trains, the Internet or during random meetings on the street, Alvarez said while announcing that nine people were charged under a state anti-human trafficking law passed last year.

During a yearlong investigation dubbed "Little Girl Lost," investigators armed with wiretaps listened as girls were beaten and, sometimes, thrown into a car trunk and driven around as a form of punishment, Alvarez said. Others were branded

One 13-year-old was sold from one pimp to another for $100.

Michael Anton, a commander with the Cook County sheriff's vice unit, called the case among the worst he's seen.

"There's so much of this out there," Anton said about human traffiicking. "It's happening every day. It's happening inChicago,Cook County, it's happening across the state.

Those arrested were charged with "involuntary sexual servitude of a minor" and trafficking in persons for forced labor. Four of them appeared in Cook County court today and ordered held on bail as high as $1 million.

The other five are scheduled to appear Thursday. Alvarez said the investigation is ongoing.